virtue-signaling
Hollow moral display
Virtue-signaling is the practice of publicly expressing moral values or political opinions primarily to demonstrate one's good character rather than to effect change.
The term is almost always pejorative, used to accuse someone of performative righteousness: Her constant posts about the environment are just virtue-signaling—she still drives an SUV.
Critics of the term argue it unfairly dismisses genuine advocacy.
Also spelled virtue signaling.
Performing to impress onlookers
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
- showboatingOstentatious self-display
- slacktivismEffortless digital cause support
- lip-serviceInsincere verbal support
Feigning moral superiority
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
- smugExcessively self-satisfied
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
- moralisticProne to lecturing others
condescending · judgmental · superior · self-satisfied · finger-wagging · lecturing · shaming · pile-on
Lack of genuine feeling
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
- fakeryDeliberate deception or pretense
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
sham · hollow · disingenuous · lip-service · double-standard · superficiality · inconsistency
Labeled link for posts
- trendingCurrently gaining widespread attention
- viralSpreading quickly online
- retweetRepublish another's post
- sharePortion given out
like · filter · story · post · influencer · platform · follower · engagement
One's self-image
- statusOne's relative position
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- approvalFavorable opinion given
- belongingState of fitting in
identity · tribe · in-group · self-promotion · attention-seeking · validation · conformity · groupthink
grandstanding
Performing to impress onlookers
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
- showboatingOstentatious self-display
- slacktivismEffortless digital cause support
sanctimonious
Feigning moral superiority
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
- smugExcessively self-satisfied
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
moralistic · condescending · judgmental · superior · self-satisfied · finger-wagging · lecturing · shaming · pile-on · smugness
insincerity
Lack of genuine feeling
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
- fakeryDeliberate deception or pretense
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
phony · sham · hollow · disingenuous · lip-service · double-standard · superficiality · inconsistency
hashtag
Labeled link for posts
- trendingCurrently gaining widespread attention
- viralSpreading quickly online
- retweetRepublish another's post
share · like · filter · story · post · influencer · platform · follower · engagement · algorithm
ego
One's self-image
- statusOne's relative position
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- approvalFavorable opinion given
belonging · identity · tribe · in-group · self-promotion · attention-seeking · validation · conformity · groupthink
- insincerityinsincerity, phoniness, fakeness, falseness, pretense
sign, signal, virtue, signature, virtuous, virtues, signify, signaling, virtuously